Arathusa Safari Lodge

Arathusa Safari Lodge was excellent and the staff were exceptional.

This trip has been the travel punctuation of my life. Seeing animals up close in their natural habitat was simply spectacular — and we saw so many! We even spotted wild dogs — and their babies! I could've eaten them all up… and they could've eaten me up too!

Everyone we encountered was happy to assist us and patiently answered all our questions. If I had to choose one word to describe South Africa, it would be magnificent.

This trip will stay with me forever.

Arathusa was great. We saw the big 5 in the first 24 hours. Amongst other things we saw a baby giraffe a few hours old, a leopard with it's two cubs and a battle between two sets of male lions over an elephant carcass. The guide and tracker were superb and we got so close! We were very impressed with the wildlife we saw.

Arathusa Safari lodge was more than we could have imagined. The rooms were enchanting, the waterhole view attracted a family of elephants each morning as we prepared for our safari. Our ranger, the tracker, the hotel staff should be complimented for going above and beyond any employee that you can imagine. They added to the magic of the vacation. Once again fate took over. We saw a group of African dogs on one safari. I understand that this is a very rare experience.

Arathusa Lodge was spectacular. Guides, trackers and staff all friendly and knowledgeable. Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Arathusa was Fantastic. The accommodations were wonderful and the staff was amazing. Everyone was so friendly, fun, happy and made our 3 nights there the best. We saw all the Big 5 which was a plus. The food was also very good.

Arathusa Safari Lodge filled many of my dreams. The lodge, It's surroundings and the rooms themselves made me feel like I was in a story book or movie. The view from the lodge and our room, the attention of the staff, the cleanliness of all areas, and the smiles on faces even when you asked a question they surely had answered a hundred times. Outstanding. Not enough can be said about Michael ,our guide and driver, and Knox his tracker. We saw amazing things.

Arathusa (Kruger National Park) was amazing! It was clean, the staff were friendly, food good. We cannot leave out the rangers who had an incredible way of tracking the animals. We saw the big 5 including a leopard that was trying to lift a dead kudu up a tree to feed its young – but sadly did not manage because the tree branches were on the weak side so she lost her kill to hyenas! The breakfast in the bush was a huge and successful surprise on our last day. My daughter's mother-in-law is even thinking of returning to Arathusa this year to take her mum.

‘Experience wonderful spacious rooms that overlook the waterhole or get closer to the wilderness in one of their bush-facing rooms that have their own private plunge pools.’

‘Arathusa was the highlight for me: I loved the lodge set up and how they worked the drives and meals. We met some great people there who we will stay in touch with and the way the lodge structures the days works really well. I couldn’t fault them at all and will absolutely be going back there one day! I never got sick of the game drives. I could have kept going forever!’

We had a life-changing trip! The safari was unbelievable, we are telling everyone we know about it. Arasthusa staff made us feel at home and treated us like royalty. We felt very pampered. Food was incredible! The best was our guide: Shawn. He took the time to educate us and show us many other beautiful things besides the Big 5.

‘Arathusa Lodge was incredible. I saw the Big 5 on my first game drive. The quality of service and accommodations was fabulous. I fell in love with South Africa and the people and hope to return sometime in the future.’

Aratusha was wonderful, the guides were great, very knowledgeable and interesting (particularly Sean).

Arathusa Lodge was a highlight with amazing game viewing and guide.

The Arathusa Lodge was beyond our dreams! The lodge itself was magical. The safaris were incredible! We couldn't believe how close we got to the animals. The highlight was our watching a pride of 8 lions eat a Cape Buffalo within 10 feet of our vehicle. Amazing!

Arathusa was great. The food was delicious. All in all, a great experience.

The Arathusa Lodge in Sabi Sands was an excellent introduction to South Africa. Our room was huge and wonderfully located overlooking the waterhole, where we could see at various times hippos, elephants, buffalo and a huge number of birds. The drives were really great – we were there in the season to see mating lions and leopards close up, and our guide Cedric was really enthusiastic and great fun. The meals were communal and very sociable, which was a great way to meet people from across the world and share experiences.

It was a remarkable experience. We didn't appreciate it until we travelled through the Serangeti and experienced what the difference between a private game reserve and a national park was relative to game viewing. In Sabi we drove through the bush and got within a few feet of every kind of game.
Anja — we had an amazing experience @ Arathusa. Food excellent – (one night we even had outside BBQ under the stars. The tables were set up as a head table @ a wdg. White table cloths, candles etc)
The spotters & guides over the top knowledgeable, witty & personable.

Arathusa blew us away. Everything from the staff to the accommodations to the food was absolutely perfect. On a scale of 1 to 10, we would all give Arathusa an 11! We didn’t arrive until 4 pm and our ranger and tracker were waiting to take us on our first game drive during which we saw the big five (and again and again throughout the trip!). The bush dinner was amazing and a complete surprise. Our ranger, Derrick, told us he was taking us somewhere special and he was not lying. Tables lined with lanterns under a sky full of stars with hyenas paying us a visit during the meal – great food to top it off. The entire time at Arathusa was magical and I would honestly not change a thing except next time I will stay longer.

Arathusa was the best camp. All the staff were friendly and extremely helpful. Rien was our guide, he was charming, knowledgeable and great fun. He was also very respectful of the animals and passionate about his job. We were very lucky to see so many animals (the big 5). The food was fabulous and plentiful and our accommodation was excellent. We would go back again.

The accommodations and game drives were top notch. Our ranger and tracker were very knowledgeable and experts in their field. The transportation arrangements were carried out smoothly. We would definitely recommend others to you without reservation.

Arathusa Safari Lodge. Once again great. A feeling of more luxury. We loved the lake in back with the hippos and elephants. Food was excellent. Rooms comfortable. We did the guided walks everyday and enjoyed them. Safari drives at both were excellent and Rangers and Tracker great. Would definitely recommend and return again.

Among all the lodges we stayed during the trip, we really like Arathusa (thanks for recommending it to us). The setting, the service and the food were impeccable, we were served 7 meals/snacks every day and we were totally spoiled by this place.

Arathusa – Wow! This place was what I call luxury in the bush. Our standard room was definitely a high standard to set. We were fortunate to have a room that looked directly out at the water hole. It appeared not all of the rooms had such good views, so I am thankful for that. I was very pleased that they provided bug repellent. It is very nice of them to think about those kind of things that you don't always need at other destinations. The rangers and trackers were superb and we had so much fun as a result. You get the sense that they love what they do, and that in turn makes you love your experience. It seemed that the place invited everyone to share their experiences together kind of like a family. Even though we were remote, which I tend to get anxious about, I felt like we always had plenty to do and plenty of good conversation if nothing else. Plus, you needed the relaxation after the early mornings and late nights. The meals were fantastic! We were so sad to go, which I think means we fell in love with the place.

Arathusa was definitely the highlight of the trip – the staff there were just fantastic and we loved seeing so many animals in their natural habitat.

Arathusa. Arrived at 3pm- pretty tired from early start at PE- with first Drive at 4.30. Tempted to have drink in well stocked bar and have swim in pool ( it was hot!) or collapse on comfy bed in our waterside bungalow ( thanks again ) but we didn’t and saw all of the Bjg 5 that evening – absolutely astonishing. It got even better over the next 5 Drives, despite the weather changing to cold and wet, with further Big 5 sightings, including a pride of lions that had wandered into another territory and got rather beaten up, and Cheetah as well. Ranger and tracker worked tirelessly to find the big game – particularly chasing Rhino. The food was much better than expected, and the staff were friendly and efficient. Excellent. 10/10

Our stay at Arathusa was a great experience with warm and friendly staff. The view to the water hole was spectacular and the room was very clean and nicely organized. The highlight of our stay was the game drives with Ryan and Debeer. Just one recommendation would be if they can accommodate better vegetarian options it would be good. We were really happy with the service we received at Kruger and Walden house as it exceeded our expectations. We would recommend everybody to stay at these places. It’s getting difficult for me to express in words about our experience. Our entire trip was a very overwhelming experience for me. If I get an opportunity I would like to settle down in SA.

The staff was very nice and the food was great. The safari guide and tracker were very knowledgeable. We liked that we didn’t have to drive far to start – the safari started at the lodge. The bushwalk and spa were nice features as well.

Arathusa was simply amazing

Our favorite, if we have to choose one would be Arathusa. Partly because of the safaris. Arathusa and Sindabezi were luxurious We loved listening to the sounds of nature at night, and we are not the camping type

Arathusa – also a great facility. Beautiful views from the rooms/bar/pool over the pond of elephants, zebra, baboons, hippo, etc grazing on the other side. Rooms very nice. The Chef and his staff go over the top to plan awesome meal experiences. Several meals in the bush were a special treat. Food was outstanding. Ranger was Royroy and tracker was Derrek – a great combo and both very skilled trackers. Drives were very exciting and productive with recurring sightings of the Big 5 as well as many others. Royroy took us on a couple of 60-minute bush walks where he explained many things about the animals, tracks, dung, and fauna. Very educational and enjoyable.

Needless to say that the Ilala Lodge and Arathusa Lodge were amazing and there was not a concern to be had after we arrived!! All the staff and the conditions at the Lodges were top notch!! Everything else was beautiful and he animals were amazing!!! No cages, no tricks, completely natural!! The panamoric drive was also very cool and who knew that pancakes could be such a versatile food in Graskop!!

Best off all was Arathusa Safari Lodge, what can we say? Our accommodation was just charming and everyone very friendly. Our game drives with Armand our guide and Derek our tracker were incredible, as every day what an experience. We saw so may animals up close, including the famous five. Their knowledge of the bush and where to track these animals was incredible, but always your safety was their main concern. The food at the lodge was amazing, they certainly have a great chef.

The lodges at Sabi Sands were lovely. Saw the Big 5 and the game rides were very enjoyable, and the tracker and the ranger were excellent.

Arathusa was amazing! We saw all Big five, Roy and Brandon were amazing.

It was the best experience ever! Nice big villa with bedroom and huge bathroom located over pond with hippos. 12 villas in lodge so there was not to crowded. Llunches and dinners were stunning – chef was coming over and announcing what we are going to eat – then meal arrived. Dinner was always 4-course, nicely balanced meal. For breakfasts there were English breakfast. Game viewing – superb! We got ranger Brandon and tracker Roy. They were doing everything to make our experience full of amazing pictures and video footage – driving off roads and approaching animals as close as they could. Brandon has wide knowledge about animals, their behaviour and was able to answer every single question. Both Brandon and Roy had got great attitude which introduced hint of adventure into game drives. We recommend Arathusa to everyone who is looking for great African safari experience.

The highligh among all the other highlights was Arathusa. What a place! The setting is stunning overlooking the huge watering hole as it does. Time in between game drives swimming in the infinity pool watching the hippos, elephants and anything else that comes in for a drink – wow. The game drives themselves were the main highlight. The two guys who took us out (Brandon & Roy) went out of their way to not only find us game (all the Big 5 nearly every time we went out!) but also to make sure we enjoyed the whole experience. Not too sure about getting charged by the big bull elephant was art of their plans though! Food, accommodation, lodge, atmosphere, just everything about the place was perfect. On the last morning breakfast was out in the bush – only about 200m from where we had seen a pride of lion the previous evening. Brilliant.

Brandon our ranger was excellent as was Roy our tracker.

Arathusa Safari Lodge adid not disappoint. We had a great time.

The luxury suite was AMAZING. It is far from the main camp and the walk to it after dinner is kind of scary (accompanied by staff though), but it is well worth it. I wished I got to experience the plunge pool but it was too cold; it was nice to look at it though.The main lodge is really pretty with the infinity pool. The food here is AMAZING! Breakfast, lunch and dinner were absolutely fanatic. The dinner menu was announced each night by the chef; the dinners were simply just fantastic. During two of the dinners, the staff setup a large horseshoe shaped table around the patio deck for dinner. It was a nice candlelight dinner overlooking the water. These were great. The massage here was AMAZING! On our last night here, they decorated our bed with flowers, set up a bubble bath, and left us a bottle of champagne. It was very sweet and romantic. When we would get back from drives, they would have a warm or cold towel for us to wipe down and a tasty complimentary alcoholic beverage. These are really nice touches after the game drives! Our ranger Brett and tracker Rifus were AMAZING! We got to see so many animals and Brett/Rifus were an amazing combo to help us find whatever animals we wanted to see. Arathusa was definitely hands down our favorite camp out of all the places we stayed at! I would definitely recommend this to my friends and family: beautiful accommodations, amazing food, fantastic game drives/rangers/trackers, amazing massages, and gorgeous camp.

All the planning of the trip was great, we enjoyed the Arathusa Lodge and the safari very much, it was such an experience to see so many animals.

I cannot say enough nice things about Arathusa. It was by far the best experience of my life. We saw every animal we wanted to see! Our guide Brett was so knowledgeable. If you book other guests there try and request him as the guide. The next time I go back I will definitely require him to be my safari guide.

Aruthusa Lodge is very good and the staff are generally good humoured. We enjoyed our time there and saw everything we wanted to.

Nice place. Good game drives and quite good food and atmosphere. We were in a nice new suite that was huge, but it was remote from the lodge with a rough gravel path (work in progress) that was overrun with critters at night. Quite wild, but we handled it fine. Very nice rose petals and sparkling wine with candles was wonderful! Thank you. Very memorable game drives of giraffe, rhinos and Cape buffalo.

Everything was beyond our expectations, especially Arathusa. Once there, we just enjoyed the experience, to say nothing of the excellent meals.

The trip was smashing. Saw 2 leopards and 4 cheetahs in 5 days that made the trip worth every single penny.

I really cannot even put into words how amazing our experience was. The staff, the environment, the details were all perfect. We saw the Big Five within three game drives.

The Arathusa lodge and staff were terrific. Professional, courteous, and extremely helpful. The food was outstanding and the safari guides were excellent. We saw the Big 5 within 24 hours of our arrival. Our guide, Phillip, was very good.

We had an amazing time on our trip. We loved every place that we stayed at and all of our transfers and transportation were perfect. The food was delicious and the people were fantastic everywhere we went. The only change that we would make would be to stay longer !

A safari experience with exceptional game viewing and a superb location; combined with that fact that it is excellent value for money, Arathusa is the safari lodge to come back to.

Game drives at Kruger and our stay in Arathusa were the best parts of the trip. And there was even a surprise birthday celebration for my husband during dinner!

Arathusa was good as ever. Phil was our ranger again as requested. We stayed in the main area this year and it was much better than being out in the the luxury suites. You reserved us a great hut and Ashleigh, the manager was great with a special treat in the room the last night – rose petals, hot bubble bath and champagne when we returned from our last evening drive. Saw the Big 5 everyday! This has to be the best safari lodge in South Africa.

The transfers/employees at Arathusa, everything flowed smoothly and was enjoyable. In fact, we were lucky enough to see the big 5, other rare animals, and a leopard kill.

Arathusa was our favourite part of the trip.

The stay at Arathusa was so relaxing and the staff and facilities were wonderful.

We had an amazing time at Arathusa. I would highly recommend your services and staying at Arathusa to friends.

We truly enjoyed Arathusa it was perfect and we had a special honeymoon – flowers and bath and wine arranged for us and also Chobe we got upgraded to a pool suite (the one Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor stayed in!) and had a special secluded lunch organised for us, and the elephant camp was stunning and also had special treatment. the service of them all was amazing and would certainly go back so thank you for arranging them for us.

it really was a trip of a lifetime and we have some amazing photograhs and memories that will last us a lifetime.

thanks helen

I am writing to you to say that the trip you organized for us was as close to perfect as it gets. The wildlife viewing in Chapunga and Arathusa was great. Staff were very courteous and the food was very good. All of our air and ground connections worked out fine.

The staff at Arathusa Lodge were awesome and we had an excellent Ranger/Tracker Ryan and Debeer.

Arathusa Safari Lodge was just out of this world. The luxury accomodation took my breath away. The staff was friendly and hospitable and we were treated like kings/queens! The 3 course meals for lunch and dinner were superb! Hats off to the chef! The game drives were lots of fun, definitely worth the early wake up calls!

Arathusa Lodge was awesome and the game drives were outstanding. Unfortunately the only Big Five we did not see were the lions, which they think migrated north, but all in all it was an experience of a life time.

Arathusa. It was THE most amazing stop of the journey. We would have enjoyed to stay one more night. The lodge was very comfortable, the food was great and the reserve very very interesting. It’s the place where we’ve seen the most animals. AMAZING

Arathusa – (Ara-Tusa) Fantastic experience. Game drives were amazing. The ranger (Andre) and the tracker (Chris) were really well trained and could answer any questions we had. They really knew there stuff and I don't think I remember any other ranger with as much knowledge. The accommodation was also terrific (150% for décor, layout and privacy), but having said that, we felt that the luxury suites were too far from the main camp and because they were so remote, you felt like locking your doors and windows out of fear of animals being hidden in the long grass. I would opt for a normal suite next time. The meals were 3/5 in my opinion. Presentation and service was always very good, but taste and flavour was not quite up there with their “5 star” image. Unfortunately the weather turned for us and we could not experience the boma dinner we were so looking forward to on Friday night.

We especially liked Arathusa, we felt very much at home there.

I have had several people ask me what my favorite part of the trip was and although it was all fabulous, I think the time at the Arathusa Lodge was my favorite because that is what most people want to do when they go to Africa – see the animals in the bush. We were not the least bit disappointed. I could go on and on about how good the trip was and we will definitely recommend (actually I already did give a friend your name and agency web).

We had an INCREDIBLE experience at Arathusa. In fact, I filled out their customer appreciation form on my way out, and gave them 10+++ rating throughout. My daughter and I were just thrilled. The staff was excellent, the food very good (and I live in France, so my standards are quite high!), the game drives thrilling, the spa was blissful (my daughter and I partook in a couple spa offerings), the accomodations were so cosy and charming… And the lodge itself – right at that watering hole location – was a magnet for animals of all kind, and a spectacle in and of itself.

The Safari was great and we were able to see the big five again and again during the three days, the staff , ranger and tracker ( and the food) were fabulous.

We started in Kruger park where we stayed 3 days in Arathusa Safari Lodge. We chose to upgrade to the luxury suite as it was our Honeymoon. The suite was huge, and so extravagant it was almost embarrassing. Privately set we had a outdoor and indoor shower and a private plunge pool on the back deck. Indoor juzzuci tub and king bed. It was very beautiful. The safari drives were amazing. We saw almost every animal in the first two days. Elephant, Cheetah, Lions, Rhino, etc… The drivers were very informative about the animals, plants, birds. There was no question they could not answer. Boma fire dinners were a very nice touch and the food was excellent.

Arathusa:
We’ve got really mixed feelings about this one… On the surface, the lodge was beautiful and in a gorgeous setting. They’ve got the most important ingredient for a successful safari lodge – amazing rangers and trackers – already in place, but the customer service we experienced from the manager, bar staff, waiting staff and receptionists wasn’t as professional, warm or friendly as we’d experienced at 2inn1. One example was the receptionist/barmaid Helena. A British girl who moved out to South Africa 18 months ago, she was very informal (perhaps too much so, revealing she didn’t even have the correct visa in place, and was actually illegally working for “cash” whilst on a voluntary work visa!) and complained of tiredness, the heat and how much she couldn’t wait for her next two weeks off, openly to guests. It’s hard to put our finger on exactly why, but we felt that the team wasn’t as bonded, happy or committed to the customer as they’d been at 2inn1.

The food was outstanding. It was brilliant to have the opportunity to sample local game (we ate kudu, warthog and antelope) and the portions were just perfect. The chef was friendly, and made presentations before each meal and came to chat with guests afterwards.

Our recommendation to future guests would be to opt for a standard room as opposed to the luxury suites. Although ours was to die for, with a packed schedule you really don’t get time to use or enjoy it. The standard rooms were actually more conveniently located, and had a great view of the water hole which animals came to visit throughout the day. The luxury rooms were located outside the main camp, and required guests to be escorted at dawn and after dusk. This would have been ok, but if you were in the furthest room you had to visit all the other rooms en route, with the member of staff escorting you (a kind of walking bus scenario!). Again, neither of us are against walking, but it meant that anyone staying far away from the camp had minimum time to get showered and changed before meals as you were the last to be dropped off, and the first to be picked up!

Our ranger and tracker (Phil and Rufus) were excellent, and would be the main reason we’d return to Arathusa. They were friendly, knowledgeable and really made our stay everything we’d hoped for from safari. We had fantastic experiences out on the game drives – saw five leopards, plenty of giraffe, buffalo, rhino elephant and zebra.

Arathusa was fantastic.

The chef cooked amazing 3 course meals at lunchtime and dinner and he even tailored the whole menu each day to cater for my wheat intolerance and made me fresh bread every day!
The staff were all lovely and the rooms were luxurious.
The ranger and trackers were all really friendly and highly experienced, and we saw the big five within the first two game drives.

Yes, I had gr8 time at the safari! It really was fun. In fact I am giving your name as a ref for future visitors!
Again, thanx for everything.
Sajid

Hi Anza,

Everything went perfect during our trip! Thank you SO very much for everything you did for us. It really went smoothly and we wouldn’t have changed anything.

Thanks again, I will definitely be recommending your services.

Cheers,

Mary

Our Safari at Arathusa Lodge was amazing as well! We saw a cheetah and her cub (twice) and witnessed them hunt and kill. I understand this is VERY rare! We felt as if we were ON the Discovery Channel!. Andre (our driver) and Chris (our tracker) were fantastic and very knowledgable…we could have learned even more I’m sure had we stayed longer!

Arathusa, however, was a deception. Starting from game drives, we spend around 2h30min on game drives (compared to 3 to 3h30min at Motswari). The ranger didn’t show any emotion when showing the animals and narrating stories. Sometimes I felt like he was driving in circles to waste time. The rangers did not use headphones, and we had to listen to the communication on the radio all the time, which was annoying. In Motswari, they use headphones. In addition, after 3 days in the bushes, I had already managed to associate the local names for the big 5, so the surprise effect was ruined by the radio. The quality of the food at Arathusa was a disaster. The food was extremely fat (with all main dishes fried or deep fried), and tasteless. Again, a huge contrast with the healthy and delicious food served at Motswari. Something that really bothered us was the lack of privacy we had at our room. While in the shower, we could see our neighbors at the veranda, which means they could also see us. As a result, we had to take shower using bikini. The game viewing there was not bad. We got to see leopards mating, cheetahs resting on a termite mound, and a hyena puppy. However, I would not come back nor recommend Arathusa to anyone.

Arathusa was generally good. We had a great room overlooking the lake and the service was friendly and good. Good game drives and plenty to see.

Everything was flawless. Lodge was fantastic, game drives were superb (saw Big 5 plus cheetah on our first drive!) and all the staff were really cool.

We’ve arrived in Cape Town for a week of work but will have great memories of our short but sweet detour! I’ll certainly be back to Arathusa and Sabi Sands in the future.

Arathusa-We were really happy to start our first safari adventure at Arathusa. The people were very kind and helpful.

The accommodations were very clean, air-conditioned, and bug-free. The food was only okay. Breakfast was always good with wide variety but lunch and dinner was not as good.

But they were accommodating since my father was diabetic and there was always fruit available.

We were lucky to see the Big 5 there during our 3 day stay. Our ranger Andre and tracker Rifos were very good and very knowledgeable. We had brilliant leopard sightings and it was all due to Andre’s more adventurous and aggressive nature of following them right into the bush.

Arathusa was awesome! Nice accommodations and a super staff. We really enjoyed the mealtime conversations with the other guests. Our ranger, Jason, was very knowledgeable and professional. Got to see the big 5 plus. Food was really good.

The trip was fabulous! Everything went as planned without a single problem every step of the way. The lodge choices were great. I’m glad you saved the Sabi Sand area for last. The game viewing was great at Kapama River Lodge but it went to a new level when we got to Arathusa. We not only saw the big 5 in one night but we also saw a lot of action with the animals (hunting and meals).

As far as the actual lodge was concerned, I felt that Kapama River Lodge, as a whole, felt to be more upscale in terms of the quality of the overall facility. The spa was an added luxury too! I also preferred the buffet for the meals at Kapama since it gave more variety if you didn’t care for the entree choices. The food at both lodges was spectacular and surpassed my expectations.

Highlights of the trip included seeing all of the Big 5 in a single game drive at Arathusa, as well as the Baby 5 (cubs & calves of each).

Another couple of things I forgot to say about Arathusa. There was a couple of very english old ladies there and one of them asked Mark how old our children were as they thought children weren’t allowed to stay there!!! Also the food was not brilliant there and we weren’t the only ones who didn’t like it. Funny enough our guide asked us what we thought of the food so, naturally, I told him. He said they are told quite a bit that it’s not so good. I think they are trying too hard and they don’t need to as it’s such a beautiful place. I don’t think the food needs to be so ‘frenchy’ and ‘posh’!!!

All the camps we visited were really great, and all provided a different experience. The water holes at Arathusa and Elephant Valley were majestic. All kinds of game came to drink. At Arathusa a pride of lions killed a waterbuck about 250 meters from our tent at about 3:00am in the morning.

The accommodation looking out across the water hole was amazing. However Steve and Debbie in Room 10 had to walk past a rather unpleasant drain smell when going to and from their room. The suggested tipping amount was almost double that of the other camps, but of course it was our choice to pay. Our guide and tracker, Ryan and Maurice were very knowledgeable.
Each of the game reserves and camps had something different to offer, by visiting a small reserve like Thornybush then the larger more open Sabi Sands we experienced different types of game viewing. I don’t know how many times we said ‘well the next place won’t be able to beat this’ but they always came up with something new. We had some wonderful sightings including three young Cheetah and their mother playing chase, young elephants fighting over a stick, a leopard being pursued by two Hyena. I could go on and on but suffice to say we saw all that we hoped to see and then some. The guides and their trackers were all excellent and so knowledgeable.

The landscape in front of the lodge was breathtaking (a huge lake with lots of animals). Five minutes after our arrival we could see a massive herd of elephants drinking and taking baths in the water (some of us thought it would be heaven and we wouldn’t want to get away from there).
“food and drinks” were very good. We’ve got nothing bad to say about it.

The Safari was certainly one of the things that I had wanted to do all of my life and we had a great time and saw the big five and more!

It was BEYOND belief. I'm sure Sam will be able to give you a really good comparison as she continued on with another Safari. From what I experienced, Arathusa was perfect! The rangers, trackers and staff were very friendly. The food was delicious and there wasn't one meal I didn't like. Each day there was something different food wise so it never got boring. For animal viewing, this place was awesome! The rangers got so close to the animals!!! They would drive right through the bush to get to where the animal was located. We consistently saw the big 5. Tons of leopard as well!! The trackers were so good at finding the animals. One tracker even found a chameleon sitting on a tree…IN THE DARK!! How he saw that we don't know, but it was pretty impressive. He also found us a Bush Baby in the dark and that was really cool to see. At the lodge, the animals come down to the watering hold to drink and it's really nice sitting outside of your room or on the property and watching the animals. I really had the best time, and from what I understand from Sam, the animal viewing at Arathusa is much more stimulating since you get so close. The rooms at Arathusa were fine. They were nicely decorated and very roomy. There were some bugs in the room (mostly ants on the floor that would bite if they got on you). There was also a mouse or bat or something living in the straw roof as I could hear the rustling at night as I was trying to fall asleep. Over all though, the rooms were fine, especially considering we were staying in the bush. They're not as luxurious as their website portrays them to be, but really – they were fine. I'm totally scared about bugs so if I'm saying it was fine, it really was fine. J

I had a FANTASTIC time, one of my most special holidays ever. Spectacular sightings and the people of South Africa made us feel SO welcome and were so supportive all the way. We couldn’t have flawed anyone in any way. Superb lodge… totally loved it.

We were SO lucky with the animals too… we had about 14 sightings of leopards (5 different ones), 1 cheetah and a pride of 5 lionnesses with 9 cubs… totally cute. We managed to track them 4 times. And we even saw hyena cubs that I’d never ever seen before – they too looked adorable. Nathalie is smitten … she can’t believe it took her 15 years to listen to me when I said nothing beats the thrill of the bush. She bought a A2 poster of leopard taken by Brandon that she’ll put on her lounge wall as a reminder of our days there.

It’s hard to be back in London. I do hope I’ll go back to Arathusa one day, our ranger, Jason, was SO lovely. Really dedicated, sensitive and SO passionate about the wildlife. So knowledgeable too, he was hugely interesting and enthusiastic. We felt so spoilt in his company. You could ask him any question.

We will remember this trip forever!!! Thanks again for being so helpful and going the ‘extra mile’ when we most needed it.
I’ll definitely be in touch again if I go back to Africa.

Just fantastic! Found it really hard to decide which we prefered out of the 2 because they were both great. While we were at Arathusa we were worried about going on to Chapungu as we thought nothing could beat it but that was wrong as we loved Chapungu just as much…again, thanks for recommending we go to 2 different places, it worked out perfectly.
Overall we found the food and accommodation better at Arathusa (the tent at Chapungu was very loud on one windy night!), and the game drives / staff better at Chapungu. That’s not to say the game drives were bad at Arathusa, or that the food wasn’t delicious at Chapungu! We saw every animal we could have wished to see, including leopards, cheetah and even a black rhino sniffing the back of our jeep! We were very lucky to get Brendon as our ranger at Chapungu and his knowledge and obvious love of the bush made a big difference to our enjoyment. The staff here were so welcoming and friendly, they really made our stay.